Summary
Closing summary
Our live coverage is ending now. In the meantime, you can find all of our live US politics coverage here. Here is a summary of the key developments from today:
Utah county attorney Jeff Gray formally announced charges against Tyler Robinson, the suspect accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk. Prosecutors have charged Robinson on seven counts, including aggravated murder, and will seek the death penalty. Later, Robinson made his first court appearance at a virtual hearing, wearing an anti-suicide smock, where Utah judge Tony F. Graf ruled Robinson qualifies for a court-appointed attorney and granted a pre-trial protective order for Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk. The next hearing in Robinson’s case is scheduled for September 29, and will be conducted virtually.
FBI director Kash Patel faced questions from the Senate judiciary committee during a more than four hour long hearing. The hearing twice included a shouting match between Patel and Democratic senator Cory Booker and later Adam Schiff. Patel defended his leadership of the FBI, denying that he has politicized the agency and ordered firings of agents and personnel over their work on cases related to Donald Trump or the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Patel also defended his actions over prematurely posting on social media that the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing had been found, only for that person to be released. Democratic senator Dick Durbin and others said Patel’s actions pointed to his lack of experience and “sparked mass confusion” during the investigation.
The Trump administration will appeal the court decision blocking Donald Trump’s bid to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook. Yesterday, a US appeals court declined to allow Trump to fire Cook, in the latest step in a legal battle that threatens the Fed’s longstanding independence.
Trump arrived in the United Kingdom where he will make an uprecedented second state visit.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Trump has invited him back to the White House on September 29. The trip will be the fourth time Netanyahu, a vocal support of Trump’s, has visited the White House since Trump’s second term began in January.
Trump filed a $15b defamation lawsuit against the New York Times and publishing firm Penguin Random House today. The lawsuit is one of a string the president has filed against media outlets, including a $10b defamation case he filed against the Wall Street Journal in July.
California governor Gavin Newsom joined a host of Democratic influencers and officials for a virtual rally in support of Proposition 50, also known as the Election Rigging Response Act. The act seeks to redraw California’s political map, in response to efforts by politicians in Republican-led states to do the same.
The Justice Department has sued the states of Oregon and Maine for declining to turn over voter registration lists to the federal government. The department is seeking voter registration rolls from at least 26 states, according to the Associated Press.
On June 8, as protesters demonstrated against the Trump administration’s immigration policies and deployment of the national guard, Los Angeles police officers fired more than 1,000 projectiles at the crowds, the Associated Press reports, citing a state-mandated report the police department released Monday.
According to the report, 584 police officers were dispatched to protests that day, where they fired 1,040 projectiles, including bean bags, rubber and foam rounds, and tear gas. Six injuries were reported as a result of the projectiles.
With Donald Trump recently arrived in the United Kingdom, for an unprecedented second state visit, London’s mayor Sadiq Khan is sharing his thoughts on the president’s visit with The Guardian.
In an opinion piece titled, “After the far right’s march on our streets, Londoners must show Trump we reject his politics of fear,” Khan writes:
Something in our country changed at the weekend. Like cities across the UK, London has seen protests organised by the far right before, but this felt different. Over 100,000 people filled the capital. Tens of thousands of them marched peacefully. But some violently attacked the police officers tasked with keeping Londoners safe. Elon Musk tried to rally protesters against our democracy, telling them to “fight back or you die”.
The scenes we saw didn’t come from nowhere. For far too long, our politicians and pundits have refused to condemn the rising tide of hatred in this country, instead choosing to dabble in dog-whistle politics and dangerous rhetoric themselves.
University of California students and faculty sued the Trump administration today, alleging that the federal government is using civil rights law to stem academic freedom and free speech.
The lawsuit comes amid ongoing negotiations between the University of California Los Angeles and the Trump administration over allegations of antisemitism on campus and cuts to university funding.
The lawsuit was filed by Democracy Forward on behalf of a coalition of faculty, staff, student organizations and every labor union representing UC workers.
Here’s more on the story:
Senator Elizabeth Warren has joined the Yes on 50 rally.
The Massachusetts Democrat is emphasizing the importance of checks and balances, and preserving independent bodies, including the Federal Reserve Board.
“The problem is the Republicans just try to outdo each other in how fast they fall to the floor to kiss Donald Trump’s feet. And the consequence of that is the whole basic structure of government now is breaking apart,” she said.
“That’s why I see Prop 50 as a fight for the independence of our democracy. A fight to say there’s a check on power,” she added.
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Gavin Newsom says that California’s efforts to redistrict are justified in this moment of American history.
“We could see this democracy slip through our fingers,” said Newsom. “Or we could recognize the moment we’re in.”
The governor’s statement came in response to a question about whether Democrats should employ a redistricting strategy that they’ve long criticized Republicans for.
“This is code red. We all need to wake up to what’s going on.”
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California governor Gavin Newsom has acknowledged the death of far-right political activist Charlie Kirk at the opening of the “Yes on 50” virtual rally.
“Charlie Kirk was my first guest,” Newsom said, speaking about his own podcast. He acknowledged that Kirk “flew out to do it in person” and praised Kirk’s “civility”.
California governor Gavin Newsom will join a host of Democratic influencers and officials for a virtual rally in support of Proposition 50, also known as the Election Rigging Response Act, shortly.
Confirmed speakers include Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, Maryland representative Jamie Raskin, Texas representative Jasmine Crockett, Florida representative Maxwell Frost, podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen, activist Olivia Julianna, former Texas representative Beto O’Rourke and podcasters Tommy Vietor and Jon Favreau.
We’ll bring you the highlights when that begins. In the meantime, here’s more on California’s efforts to redraw its political maps, in response to Texas’s move to do the same, from my colleague Lauren Gambino:
Donald Trump filed a $15b defamation lawsuit against the New York Times and publishing firm Penguin Random House today. The president claims that two New York Times reporters published three articles in the paper and one book with the publisher intended to sabotage his 2024 presidential campaign, Reuters reports. The book is titled “Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success.”
In statements to Reuters, the Times and Penguin Random House said the president’s lawsuit makes no legitimate legal claims.
The lawsuit is one of a string the president has filed against media outlets, including a $10b defamation case he filed against the Wall Street Journal in July.
In a post about the lawsuit on his social media platform, “The Radical Left Media is working hard to destroy the U.S.A. We are going to stop them at each and every level!!!”
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Social Security beneficiaries’ private information has not been compromised, according to a letter the agency’s commissioner Frank Bisignano sent to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo.
“I can confirm, based on the agency’s thorough review, that neither the Numident database nor any of its data has been accessed, leaked, hacked, or shared in any unauthorized fashion,” Bisignano wrote.
Last month, an agency whistleblower said that the personal data of more than 300 million Americans had been compromised after the Department of Government Efficiency accessed the Social Security Administration’s data. The whistleblower, Charles Borges, resigned after filing the complaint.
Donald Trump signed an executive order extending a deadline for the social media app TikTok to find a non-Chinese buyer today. This is the fourth such time that the president has extended a deadline for the company.
Earlier today, Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said he anticipated a final deal on TikTok when Trump speaks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday.
Earlier today, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Donald Trump has invited him back to the White House on September 29, the Associated Press reports.
The trip will be the fourth time Netanyahu, a vocal support of Trump’s, has visited the White House since Trump’s second term began in January.
Viewers of Tyler Robinson’s recent court appearance may have witnessed the suspected shooter of far-right political activist Charlie Kirk wearing a green vest.
The BBC’s Kayla Epstein reports that two court officers told her the vest is intended to prevent self-harm and that it is not a bulletproof vest. So-called “anti-suicide smocks” are not uncommon in US prisons.
While announcing the charges against Robinson earlier today, Utah county attorney Jeff Gray shared that Robinson suggested he might harm himself, rather than turn himself in, while speaking with family after the shooting.
Updated
Tyler Robinson to next appear in court on 29 September for virtual hearing
The next hearing in Tyler Robinson’s case is scheduled for September 29, and will be conducted virtually.
A lawyer must be appointed to represent Robinson by then.
Today’s hearing has concluded.
Updated
Judge Tony F. Graf is currently reading Tyler Robinson the charges that Utah county attorney Jeff Gray announced earlier today.
Those are:
1. Aggravated murder,
2. Felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury,
3. Obstruction of justice for moving and concealing the rifle used in the shooting,
4. Obstruction of justice for disposing the clothing he wore during the shooting,
5. Witness tampering for directing his roommate to delete his incriminating text,
6. Witness tampering for directing his roommate to stay silent if police questioned him,
7. Commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.
Tyler Robinson appears in virtual court appearance
Tyler Robinson is now appearing for his first, virtual court appearance from the Utah jail where he is being held.
A Utah judge has ruled Robinson indigent, saying he qualifies for a court-appointed attorney.
The judge has also granted a pre-trial protective order for Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk.
A Utah state prosecutor has also shared that the state intends to pursue the death penalty.
Updated
Earlier today, Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace introduced a resolution to censure Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar over comments Omar made following the death of far-right political activist Charlie Kirk.
“Ilhan Omar has shown us exactly who she is: someone who defends political violence and refuses to condemn the loss of innocent lives when it doesn’t suit her agenda, even the cold-blooded assassination of Charlie Kirk,” Mace said in a statement released before she introdued the resolution. “If you mock a political assassination and celebrate murder, you don’t get to keep your committee seat, you get consequences.”
A spokesperson for Omar challenged that characterization in comments shared with CNN.
“Congresswoman Omar was one of the first to condemn Charlie Kirk’s murder. She explicitly expressed her sympathies and prayers to his wife and children. She condemned his assassination and has routinely condemned political violence, no matter the political ideology,” the spokesperson said. “In her interview, she also grappled with his divisive legacy, but she in no way implied violence was deserved, nor did she celebrate his death.”
The news comes as members of the Trump administration have fired public officials who have spoken out about Kirk’s legacy, and just one day after JD Vance guest-hosted Kirk’s podcast, where he told listeners to “Call them out, and hell, call their employer,” if they knew anyone celebrating Kirk’s death.
Charlie Kirk suspect to make first court appearance
Tyler Robinson, the Utah man accused of murdering far-right political activist Charlie Kirk last week, is expected to appear in court at 5pm ET, according to the Utah County Attorney’s Office.
The hearing will be conducted online and will be Robinson’s first court appearance in the murder case.
We’ll bring you the latest when it begins.
Here is footage from our coverage earlier of Utah state prosecutors charging Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, with aggravated murder, among other charges.
A separate piece of news from the United Kingdom as Donald Trump is expected to land there shortly: Microsoft has announced that it will invest $30bn in the UK through 2028.
The company’s president, Brad Smith, told reporters, including the Associated Press, that Microsoft planned to invest in the UK due to the company’s “regulatory stability” and commitment to developing power data centers.
Updated
In other news, Air Force One is due to land soon at London Stansted airport as Donald Trump heads to the UK for an unprecedented second state visit.
The UK’s largest and tightest security operation since King Charles’s coronation is now under way, with police boats in the River Thames, and snipers and drones also in place.
There will be no public-facing engagements for the duration of the president’s two-day visit, with last week’s fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk – as well as the attempt on Trump’s life last year – at the forefront of security considerations.
Tomorrow Trump is expected to meet with the king in Windsor before heading to Chequers - the prime minister’s country residence - on Thursday to meet with Keir Starmer.
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Charlie Kirk shooting suspect charges: what we've learned from news conference
The suspect in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, has been charged with aggravated murder and weapon and obstruction offenses, and the state of Utah will be pursuing the death penalty. He continues to be held without bail and is due to appear in court for the first time – via video link – at 5pm ET.
DNA “consistent with” Robinson was also found on the trigger of the bolt-action rifle believed to have been used in Kirk’s shooting, as well as on other parts of the rifle, the fired cartridge casing, two of the three unfired cartridges, and the towel the rifle was found wrapped in.
According to charging documents filed today, Robinson allegedly planned the shooting for a little over a week and confessed to his roommate/partner.
His roommate told authorities that Robinson texted on 10 September and told them to look under a keyboard. A note was under the keyboard that stated: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it.”
The roommate then texted Robinson and asked if he was joking. Robinson responded: “I am still OK, my love. … Shouldn’t be long till I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest, I had hoped to keep this secret until I died of old age.”
In further messages, Robinson said he was the one who shot Kirk. Roommate: you weren’t the one who did it right???? Robinson: I am, I’m sorry
When the roommate asked why he did it, Robinson responded: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
In further text messages, Robinson told his roommate that the rifle belonged to his grandfather and sent several messages about how he might retrieve it while police were searching for him. He appeared to consider whether it could be traced back to him.
Authorities said the suspect might have concealed the murder weapon in his pants as he walked on campus, tipping off authorities with his “unusual gait”. The suspect walked “with very little bending in his right leg, consistent with a rifle being hidden in his pants,” the charging documents read.
Robinson then instructed the roommate to delete “incriminating” text messages and to not speak to police or media, according to the documents.
We’ve also learned that the suspect’s mother identified him in a photo released by authorities. His mother told the police that her son had “become more political and started to move more to the left” over the last year or so and had become “more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented”.
In one conversation with his parents before the shooting, Robinson mentioned that Kirk would be holding an event at UVU, which Robinson said was a “stupid venue” for the event. Robinson accused Kirk of spreading hate.
While talking to his parents at their home after the shooting, Robinson allegedly implied that he shot Kirk, “and stated that he couldn’t go to jail, and just wanted to end it”, alluding to suicide. He allegedly told his parents when they asked why he did it: “There’s too much evil in the guy.”
Updated
Charlie Kirk suspect charged with aggravated murder, facing death penalty
My colleagues Anna Betts and Ramon Antonio Vargas have the full report on the news conference:
Utah state prosecutors have charged Tyler Robinson, the man accused of fatally shooting the far-right activist Charlie Kirk, on Tuesday with aggravated murder, meaning the 22-year-old could face the death penalty if convicted.
Jeff Gray, the top prosecutor in Utah county, said Robinson also ordered his roommate to delete incriminating text messages and stay silent if police questioned him in the aftermath of the Turning Point USA executive director’s killing on 10 September.
“I do not take this decision lightly,” Gray said. “And it is a decision I have made independently as county attorney based solely on the available evidence and circumstances and nature of the crime.”
Updated
And that’s it, the briefing is over.
Asked why his office has been measured in sharing the investigation information around Charlie Kirk’s killing, in stark contrast to FBI director Kash Patel, Gray says:
Well, as attorneys, we typically like to control that information to preserve an impartial jury and a fair trial.
Gray says he talked to officials from both the governor’s office and the Trump administration before filing charges, but said the decision to seek the death penalty was his.
Gray says he wants to ensure a fair and impartial trial.
Charging documents say Robinson confessed to roommate in series of messages
Robinson confessed to his roommate in a series of messages after the incident, according to the charging documents filed today.
Roommate: you weren’t the one who did it right????
Robinson: I am, I’m sorry
Roommate: I thought they caught the person?
Robinson: no, they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down.
In another part of the exchange, Robinson’s roommate asked why he did it. “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out,” Robinson replied, according to the documents.
Robinson also told his roommate that the rifle he allegedly used belonged to his grandfather. He sent several messages about how he might retrieve it while police were searching for him in the hours after the shooting.
“I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpas rifle,” Robinson said in the messages, and appeared to consider whether it could be traced back to him.
“I might have to abandon it and hope they don’t find prints. how the f*ck will I explain losing it to my old man,” he said, according to the documents.
Robinson also told his roommate to delete the messages and not to speak to police or the media.
Updated
Suspect left note on shooting for roommate, charging documents say
According to charging documents, Tyler Robinson’s roommate and romantic partner appears to have discovered that Robinson carried out the Kirk shooting when Robinson sent a text saying: “Drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.”
That’s where the partner found a note that said, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” according to the charges.
After reading the note, the roommate asked Robinson if he was joking. Robinson responded: “I am still OK, my love. … Shouldn’t be long till I can home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest, I had hoped to keep this secret until I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.”
The roommate then asked Robinson if he was involved in the shooting. Robinson confirmed that he was and said he intended to grab his rifle, but the area was on lockdown.
When the roommate asked why he did it, Robinson responded: “I had enough of his hate. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Robinson instructed the roommate to delete their text conversation, Gray said.
Updated
Robinson’s mother told the county sheriff’s office that her son had accused Charlie Kirk of spreading hate, Gray says.
While talking to his parents at their home, Robinson allegedly implied that he shot Kirk, “and stated that he couldn’t go to jail, and just wanted to end it”, Gray says.
When Robinson was then asked why he did it, Robinson said that Kirk “spreads too much hate”, Gray said.
“There’s too much evil in the guy,” Robinson allegedly told his parents, Gray says.
Updated
Robinson’s mother told the police that her son had “become more political and started to move more to the left” over the last year or so and had become “more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented”, Gray says.
He had also become romantically involved with his roommate, who was transitioning, Gray says.
This resulted in several discussions with family members, but especially between Robinson and his father, who have very different political views, he adds.
In one conversation with his parents before the shooting, Robinson mentioned that Charlie Kirk would be holding an event at UVU, which Robinson said was a “stupid venue” for the event. Robinson accused Kirk of spreading hate, says Gray.
Updated
Suspected Kirk shooter's mother identified him in photo released by authorities
Gray says: “Robinson’s mother saw the photo of the shooter in the news and thought the shooter looked like her son.”
“Robinson’s mother called her son and asked him where he was. He said he was at home sick and had been home sick on September 10,” he adds.
Updated
Suspect may have concealed murder weapon in trousers, says Utah county attorney
The suspect might have concealed the murder weapon in his pants as he walked on campus, tipping off authorities with his “unusual gait”, Gray says.
“As he proceeds across the campus, he is seen walking with an unusual gait … The suspect walks with very little bending in his right leg, consistent with a rifle being hidden in his pants,” he adds.
Updated
In the charging documents is a text exchange that Tyler Robinson had with his roommate and romantic partner shortly after the shooting, in which Robinson admits to the assassination, they say.
“I had enough of his hatred,” Robinson texted, referring to Charlie Kirk. “Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Updated
Gray talks through the surveillance and physical evidence collected at Utah Valley University after Kirk’s shooting, including video evidence of a suspect running across campus and impressions in the gravel consistent with a sniper on the roof where the shots originated from.
There is now a feed at the top of the blog if you’d like to follow the briefing.
DNA “consistent with” Robinson was found on the trigger of the bolt-action rifle believed to have been used in the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Gray says.
After allegedly shooting Kirk, Robinson hid the gun, discarded his clothing and told his roommate to delete incriminating text messages and not talk to police, Gray says. Children were present at the event where Kirk was fatally shot, he adds.
Updated
Utah to seek death penalty in Kirk shooting case
Gray also confirms that he will be seeking the death penalty.
“I do not take this decision lightly, and it is a decision I have made independently,” Gray says.
As a result, the defendant will continue to be held without bail in the Utah county jail.
Suspect in Charlie Kirk killing charged with aggravated murder and weapon and obstruction offenses
Gray announced he is filing charges on these counts:
1. Aggravated murder,
2. Felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury,
3. Obstruction of justice for moving and concealing the rifle used in the shooting,
4. Obstruction of justice for disposing the clothing he wore during the shooting,
5. Witness tampering for directing his roommate to delete his incriminating text,
6. Witness tampering for directing his roommate to stay silent if police questioned him,
7. Commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.
Updated
The Utah county attorney Jeff Gray is now holding a press conference to explain charges and the next steps in the case of Tyler Robinson suspected of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk.
I’ll bring you all the key developments here.
Updated
Summary: Kash Patel grilled by Senate committee
FBI director Kash Patel’s testimony before the Senate judiciary committee has finally wrapped after more than four hours.
The appearance twice exploded into a shouting match between Kash Patel and Democratic senator Cory Booker and later Adam Schiff. Patel defended his leadership of the FBI, denying that he has politicized the agency and ordered firings of agents and personnel over their work on cases related to Donald Trump or the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. “No one at the FBI is terminated for case assignments alone,” Patel said, in careful wording picked apart by Democrats.
He also defended his actions over prematurely posting on social media that the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing had been found, only for that person to be released. Democratic senator Dick Durbin and others said Patel’s actions pointed to his lack of experience and “sparked mass confusion” during the investigation.
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Schiff-Patel exchange turns fiery in second shouting match of hearing
Schiff then challenges Patel over the administration’s handling of questions related to Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
In particular, Schiff expresses outrage at Patel’s claim he had no knowledge of why Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sex-trafficking sentence related to the Epstein investigation, was moved to a minimum-security facility after speaking with deputy attorney general Todd Blanche.
“You are the biggest fraud to ever sit in the United States Senate,” Patel yells. “You are disgrace to this institution and an utter coward.”
Grassley bangs his gavel to try to restore order as the two continue arguing.
“You are a political buffoon, at best,” Patel tells Schiff.
“You can make an internet troll the FBI director, but will always be nothing more than an internet troll,” Schiff tries to yell over him.
Durbin urges Grassley to take control of the hearing, prompting Grassley to bang his gavel and say: “Both of you, be quiet.”
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Patel insists FBI employees weren't terminated 'for case assignments alone'
Democratic senator Adam Schiff asks Patel again whether FBI employees were fired for political retribution.
“Are you testifying today that you never terminated anyone at the FBI in whole or in part because of a prior case assignment?” Schiff asks.
Patel says: “No one at the FBI is terminated for case assignments alone.”
Schiff highlights that Patel used the word alone. “Mr Patel, did you in whole or in part terminate anyone at the FBI because they worked on the Trump investigation, or because they worked on January 6?”
Patel repeats: “No one at the FBI has been terminated for case assignments alone.”
Schiff asks: “Does that mean they were terminated in part because they were assigned to a January 6 case, or assigned to the Mar-a-Lago case? You’re being very precise here, Mr Patel, you’re saying alone. That means they were fired in part because they were assigned those cases. Is that your testimony?”
“Absolutely not,” Patel said.
Utah to file formal charges against Kirk shooting suspect
Attention will switch to Utah shortly, where county attorney Jeff Gray is due to file formal charges against Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer Tyler Robinson at 2pm ET.
Gray will hold a news conference in around 30 minutes, where we should learn much more about the suspect and the case laid against him.
Robinson is then due to appear in court for the first time – via video link – at 5pm ET.
Patel defends social media post about Kirk subject in custody
Patel posted in the hours after the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk that “the subject” was in custody even though the actual suspect was still at large.
“I don’t see it as a mistake. I see it as something - working with the public to identify that there was a subject in custody,” Patel told senators.
He said he wanted to inform the public that a subject had been taken into custody, even though that person did not end up being the suspect in the shooting.
Could I have been more careful in my verbiage and said we had a subject instead of the subject? Sure.
Democratic senator Peter Welch pushed back, saying it caused confusion by making it sound like authorities had caught the person suspected of killing Kirk.
Patel shot back: “That’s not what I said.”
US must ‘turn the tide’ against political violence and reject vengeance, says Pennsylvania governor
Pennsylvania’s governor Josh Shapiro has said the US must “turn the tide” against political violence and the belief that government can’t solve problems while also rejecting vengeance, the AP reports.
Shapiro, a Democrat, delivered the remarks at the Eradicate Hate Global Summit in Pittsburgh. Shapiro said leaders must condemn all forms of political violence and shouldn’t use violence as a pretext for more violence or to prosecute constitutionally protected speech.
Shapiro also criticized Donald Trump, saying some people “in the dark corners of the internet, all the way to the Oval Office, want to cherry-pick which instances of political violence they want to condemn”.
Trump and his allies have come under fire for blaming political violence squarely on the left, condemning violent acts committed against Republicans, and ignoring acts of violence against Democrats.
In April, Shapiro and his family fled the governor’s official residence in the middle of the night after an alleged arsonist set it on fire in an attempt to kill Shapiro.
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Cruz urges Patel to “follow the money”, suggesting – as Trump has many times – that political violence is being funded and promoted by certain individuals/organizations.
Patel says: “We’ve been following the money, issuing lawful process to organizations involved in criminal activity, because the money has to come from somewhere and it has to be funded somehow.
“So we have extensive investigations into numerous organizations that are related to violent criminal activity.”
Weighing in on the controversy surrounding people posting comments critical of Charlie Kirk on social media since his killing, Republican senator Ted Cruz encourages the FBI to “focus on conduct”.
“Under our Constitution, under the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment, speech is protected, and that’s true even for vile speech,” Cruz says. “Someone can stand up and say the most hateful thing, and it’s protected by the First Amendment.”
He continues: “Speech can guide you to those engaged in conduct.”
Booker-Patel exchange descends into shouting match
Booker says Trump promised to make the country safer, but says Patel’s actions at the FBI have led to the opposite.
“You have pushed out senior FBI agents with decades of knowledge and experience,” Booker says. “In fact, this is the first time in FBI history that neither the director nor the deputy director have any experience with the FBI. You’ve shifted the agency’s priorities primarily to pursuing Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.
“I believe you have made our country weaker and less safe,” Booker says, “by gutting the agency of knowledge and expertise” and having agents “do low-level immigration enforcement instead of their mission-critical work”.
“You don’t get to say that America is not safer under this leadership,” Patel says. “America is safer because of the FBI.”
Booker says he believes the US is more vulnerable to a domestic or foreign attack because of Patel’s “failing as a leader”.
In just eight months you have assaulted the institutional integrity of the FBI.
He then predicts that Patel won’t hold the job as director for much longer.
Here’s the thing, Mr Patel, I think you’re not going to be around long ... I think this might be your last oversight hearing.
“Sir, that rant of false information does not bring this country together,” Patel responds.
The exchange then descends into a yelling match, with Chuck Grassley having to pound his gavel to struggle to contain them, bringing the questioning to a halt.
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Booker asks if Patel discussed the matter with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
Patel says: “Not that I recall.”
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Booker asks Patel under what authority he terminated former acting FBI director Brian Driscoll, who is suing Patel for alleged wrongful termination.
Patel says he can’t discuss the matter as it’s under litigation.
Booker then challenges Patel that he said under oath that he wasn’t aware of any plans to punish FBI agents associated with criminal investigations of Donald Trump.
“I don’t believe you were truthful,” says Booker, adding that firing FBI employees solely based on the cases they’re working on is illegal.
Booker tells Patel he is accused of carrying out Trump’s “campaign of retribution”.
Booker accuses Patel of 'making a mockery' of hearing
Cory Booker then revisits Patel’s testimony that Donald Trump had declassified the documents at issue in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case.
Booker asks Patel if he testified before the grand jury that Trump declassified the documents.
Patel says he should read the transcript.
“Why are you refusing to answer that simple yes or no question right now?” asks Booker, as the exchange becomes tense.
Patel insists the premise of the question is “inaccurate” and asks Booker how he knows what was said before the grand jury if he wasn’t there.
“Mr Patel, this is a mockery you’re making of this hearing,” says Booker, as Patel shrugs.
Patel tells Democratic senator Cory Booker he had no prior discussions with the White House about intentions to remove FBI personnel before his confirmation.
He then clarifies that ahead of his confirmation hearing he had a number of discussions about “the type of people that would be employed and that those who were failing to meet the mark at the FBI would no longer be employed”.
Challenged by Booker, Patel denies that that mark had to do with loyalty to the Trump administration. “No, you’re wrong,” Patel says.
Updated
Democratic senator Mazie Hirono asked Patel about the FBI personnel changes.
“Since January 20, 2025, how many FBI employees have retired, resigned, been fired or otherwise separated from employment?” Hirono asked.
Patel replied that he would “get her a number” as he did not have a number “off the top of my head.”
“Would it surprise you to know that it is in the thousands?” Hirono asked.
“I don’t think that number is accurate” Patel responded.
Updated
During a heated exchange, Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal asked Patel whether “anyone from the White House contacted you about personnel decisions?”.
“I completely disagree with your entire premise that I have lied or am misleading the FBI” Patel responded, referring to earlier comments made by Blumenthal accusing Patel of lying to lawmakers during his confirmation hearing when he told them that FBI agents would not face political retribution.
“The only way people get terminated at the FBI is if they fail to meet the muster of their job and their duties, and that is where I will leave it. You accusing me of lying is something I don’t take lightly, but I’m not going to get into a tit for tat with you.”
Blumenthal pressed Patel again, asking once more: “Has anyone from the White House contacted you about personnel decisions?”.
Patel replied: “Generally speaking, we always discuss with the White House, OMB during the budget process, how many personnel we need, who we need where.”
“Any termination at the FBI was a decision that I made based on the evidence that I have as director of the FBI,” Patel added. “It’s my job and I’m not going to shy away from it.”
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During the hearing, Republican Louisiana Senator John Kennedy asked Patel about the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Epstein’s crimes.
“Who, if anyone, did Epstein traffic these young women to?” Kennedy asked.
Patel responded, that “there is no credible information, none ... that he trafficked to other individuals” adding that “if there were, I would bring the case yesterday that he trafficked to other individuals.”
During his remarks, Kennedy said that “this issue is not going to go away,” and said that he believes the “central question for the American people is this: They know that Epstein trafficked young women for sex to himself. They want to know who if anyone else he trafficked these young women to.”
When asked by Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota whether he would support an assaults weapon ban, Patel said that “there are instances on this legislation that could prevent future attacks, but I’m not going to weigh in to the creation of legislation.”
While Patel is answering questions from lawmakers, President Donald Trump continues to defend Patel’s handling of the Kirk shooting investigation.
Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn, Trump said that “take a look at what he did with respect to this horrible person... He did it in two days” referring to the fact that the suspect was taken into custody after a 33-hour manhunt. Authorities say that the suspect turned himself in.
“It took other similar cases four days, five days, four years if you look at certain shooters” Trump added.
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Patel says FBI investigating Discord group chat where Kirk shooting suspect allegedly confessed
Patel told Republican senator Josh Hawley that the Discord chat in which the Kirk shooting suspect allegedly confessed to the murder was “leaked”.
Asked by Hawley whether the Kirk shooting is being treated as part of a broader trend of violence against religious groups, Patel responded: “We are investigating Charlie’s assassination fully and completely and running out every lead related to any allegation of broader violence.”
Patel also said that the FBI is investigating “anyone and everyone” who was involved in an online gaming chatroom on Discord with the alleged shooter. That chatroom involved “a lot more” than 20 people, Patel said, adding: “We’re running them all down.”
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Patel denies he has an enemies list
Democratic senator Sheldon Whitehouse puts it to Patel that there have been “adverse actions of various kinds taken against” 20 out of 60 people on his so-called enemies list.
“You’ve been in office for seven months. At that rate, you’ve got 14 months until you’ve hit all 60,” Whitehouse said.
“That is an entirely inaccurate presupposition,” Patel replied. “I do not have an enemies list. You can continue to characterize it as you wish. The only actions we take, generally speaking, for personnel of the FBI, are ones based on merit and qualification and your ability to uphold your constitutional duty. You fall short, you don’t work there anymore.”
Patel identified 60 alleged “deep state” actors in his 2023 book “Government Gangsters”. He has rejected the idea that it’s an enemies list.
Patel refuses to address FBI firings
Questioned by Durbin on the recent firings of FBI agents, Patel said he would not get into personnel decisions and accused him of unfairly attacking FBI leadership.
Earlier in the hearing, Patel called it “absolutely disgraceful” to cite what he described as a “one-sided story” about the firings.
“Your attack on the current leadership of the men and women of the FBI is equally disgraceful,” Patel told Durbin.
The AP notes he is facing a lawsuit from three high-ranking FBI officials who have accused him of illegally firing them in a “campaign of retribution”.
Republican senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, asked Patel what legal justification the administration is using for military strikes on Venezuelan boats that the president has said are carrying drugs.
Patel declined to answer, saying he would leave that to attorney general Pam Bondi.
“We will hunt down every single one of those narco-traffickers,” Patel added.
Patel defends deputy director Dan Bongino over conspiracy theory claims
Durbin asked Patel about unfounded statements from Dan Bongino before he became deputy FBI director that the bombs found at the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee on 6 January 2021 were an “inside job”.
Patel declined to comment on Bongino’s comments, but called Durbin’s criticism of Bongino “disgusting”.
“So you have no evidence?” asked Durbin.
“I got a lot of evidence, and I’ll give it to you when I can,” Patel said.
The person who placed the bombs just before the attack on the US Capitol that day has never been identified.
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During a combative exchange, Patel was pressed by Durbin over an unsigned memo released by the justice department in July that said there was no evidence of a Jeffrey Epstein “client list”.
Patel responded with a dig at Joe Biden, telling Durbin: “Would you have preferred I used autopen?”
Patel dodges questions on polygraph tests in tense exchange
The Senate hearing quickly became tense, with the FBI director repeatedly avoiding answering questions from Durbin on how the bureau has administered polygraph tests to staff.
Patel told Durbin, the top Democrat on the judiciary committee, that he wouldn’t discuss the specifics of how polygraph tests are administered or what questions come up.
Durbin responded: “You have to have a decent memory when you come before a committee.”
The Associated Press has previously reported that agents and senior executives alike have been subjected to polygraph exams aimed at ferreting out disclosures of information related to Patel.
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Patel concluded his opening statement with a bit of a challenge for his critics: “I’m not going anywhere.”
He pointed to his experience as a congressional staffer and Trump administration official, saying: “If you want to criticize my 16 years of service, please bring it on.”
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Patel defends actions during Kirk shooting investigation
Patel starts off defending his actions during the Charlie Kirk shooting investigation.
He tells the Senate panel that his agency - “at my direction” – successfully brought the suspect into custody.
While he tells lawmakers that his order to release “never-before-seen video of the suspect” played a crucial role in the arrest, the New York Times notes that local authorities have said the routine release of the images might have played a role but the key break came when a family member identified the suspect, Tyler Robinson.
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Durbin calls for the temperature to be brought down amid rising political violence and highlights that there are victims on both sides.
Patel 'sparked mass confusion' over Charlie Kirk shooting suspect, says Durbin
Durbin says Patel “sparked mass confusion” by announcing too early that the suspect in the shooting of Charlie Kirk had been caught.
“At critical stages of an investigation, shut up and let professionals do their job,” says Durbin.
Durbin criticises Patel’s diversion of personnel from critical missions to reviewing thousands of pages of Jeffrey Epstein-related records and to flag anywhere Donald Trump was mentioned – to find that there was no client list.
Durbin says a letter he sent to Patel asking about his role “in this cover-up” has gone unanswered.
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Durbin says Patel “had no training or life experience for this position” adding “the result of that incompetence is staggering”.
The exodus of some 5,000 career civil servants has caused “brain drain” at the FBI, says Durbin, with many remaining civil servants diverted from their work in national security to the administration’s mass deportation agenda.
Durbin also notes reports of “loyalty tests” including use of polygraphs under Patel.
Durbin also notes Patel’s installation of “Maga loyalists as political appointees in key career positions, including conspiracy theorist Dan Bongino as deputy FBI director, the first time in history that this position has not been filled by an FBI agent”.
Durbin highlights the “unprecedented purge of public officials” at the bureau.
Patel has “already inflicted untold damage on the FBI”, says Durbin, “putting our national security and public safety at risk”.
Durbin highlights Patel’s false claim that “the FBI was planning January 6 for a year” and his “enemies list” of public servants.
Patel 'came to the FBI with a political mission', says Durbin
Democratic senator Dick Durbin has just called Kash Patel “arguably the most partisan FBI director ever” and said “he came to the FBI with a political mission” and “attacked the FBI with a vengeance”.
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If you’d like to follow Patel’s hearing, there is a feed at the top of the blog.
Kash Patel to face Senate questions over investigation into Charlie Kirk’s killing
Under-fire FBI director Kash Patel will confront Senate Democrats at a congressional hearing at 9am ET, likely to be dominated by questions about the investigation into the killing of Charlie Kirk, as well as the agency’s role in reviewing the files related to the Epstein case, and recent firings of senior officials who have accused Patel of illegal political retribution.
His appearance before the Senate judiciary committee represents the first oversight hearing of Patel’s young but tumultuous tenure. Most recently he has faced criticism for his actions and social media posts during the Kirk shooting investigation, which have raised questions about his experience and judgement, including being seen as “grandstanding” with regards to his own role, and prematurely (and wrongly) announcing on X that the suspect had been caught.
This hearing provides a high-stakes platform for him to try to reassure wary lawmakers that he is the right person for the job at a time of internal upheaval and mounting concerns about political violence inside the US, which Donald Trump and his allies have sought to blame squarely on the left.
We’ll bring you all the latest from the hearing when it gets underway.
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Trump administration to appeal court decision blocking firing of Fed governor Lisa Cook, White House says
The Trump administration will appeal the court decision blocking Donald Trump’s bid to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, the White House said on Tuesday.
“The President lawfully removed Lisa Cook for cause. The Administration will appeal this decision and looks forward to ultimate victory on the issue,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said.
Yesterday, a US appeals court declined to allow Trump to fire Cook, in the latest step in a legal battle that threatens the Fed’s longstanding independence.
The decision by the US court of appeals for the District of Columbia circuit meant that Cook could for now remain at the Fed ahead of its policy meeting today and Wednesday where it is expected to cut US interest rates to shore up a cooling labor market.
The judge denied the justice department’s request to put on hold a judge’s order temporarily blocking Trump from removing Cook, an appointee of Joe Biden. It was the first time a president has pursued such action since the central bank’s founding in 1913. The administration was expected to appeal the ruling to the US supreme court.
Here’s our story on that from last night:
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A mass ‘doxing’ effort to track down, intimidate and harass people perceived not to have sufficiently mourned the killing of the rightwing activist Charlie Kirk was endorsed on Monday night by JD Vance.
The US vice-president guest-hosted Kirk’s podcast on Monday and said that people who “see someone celebrating Charlie’s murder” should “call them out”. He added: “Hell, call their employer. We don’t believe in political violence, but we do believe in civility, and there is no civility in the celebration of political assassination.”
In the past few days, numerous workers across various different fields ranging from colleges to an airplane pilot have been fired for their comments on Kirk’s death.
An anonymous website that began collecting reports of anti-Kirk “political extremism” said it had received more than 63,000 submissions. The website was originally named “Expose Charlie’s Murderers” but rebranded Monday to the “Charlie Kirk Data Foundation”.
Trump allies have sought to link Kirks killing – without evidence – to what they say is a coordinated leftwing “terror” movement that supports political violence, funded by progressive and liberal charities. This has led to fears of a draconian crackdown on free speech.
In his podcast, Vance said the administration would “work to dismantle the institutions that promote violence and terrorism in our own country”.
Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday he anticipated a final deal on TikTok when Donald Trump speaks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday.
China had a long list of asks during talks this week in Madrid, Bessent said. He described the talks as fulsome and conducted with great respect.
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Progressive groups fear ‘McCarthy era’ attacks in wake of Charlie Kirk shooting
The president, vice-president and members of Congress have begun calling for the government to investigate progressive organizations in the wake of the Charlie Kirk murder, in terms those targeted say are reminiscent of the House Un-American Activities Committee and the “red scare” of the 1950s.
Donald Trump, speaking to Fox & Friends on Friday, presented “vicious and horrible” radicals on the left of US politics as a roadblock to the country coming together politically after the shooting. On Sunday, he amplified his attack on political enemies by declaring that “a lot of people that you would traditionally say are on the left … [are] already under investigation”.
The posture is being echoed by members of his administration.
“With God as my witness, we are going to use every resource we have at the DoJ, Homeland Security, and throughout this government, to identify, disrupt, dismantle, and destroy these networks,” said Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy, speaking to Vice-President JD Vance while Vance guest-hosted Kirk’s podcast Monday. “We will do it in Charlie’s name.”
The day after Kirk’s murder, 22 members of the House freedom caucus sent a letter to the House speaker, asking for the creation of a select committee on “the money, influence, and power behind the radical left’s assault on America and the rule of law”.
The letter, echoing commentary from the president and the right, contends that Kirk’s murder is of a pattern of “coordinated attack” by “NGOs, donors, media, public officials” and others, attempting to tie together widely distinct incidents , from the February 2024 murder of Georgia college student Laken Riley to the killing last month of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte.
None of the organizations in the letter, nor other prominent organizations on the political left, said they had been contacted by federal law enforcement or Congress in the wake of the Kirk killing. Some, such as the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) or the Open Society Foundations – an organization closely associated with financier George Soros – have been through rounds of rightwing congressional inquiry during Trump’s first term.
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The Trump administration’s shakeup of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has forced Mississippi to stop gathering critical data on women’s experiences before, during and after pregnancy – even as the state recently declared a public health emergency over its surging infant mortality rate.
Mississippi has suspended data collection for Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (Prams), a national database that has been integral to policymaking on maternal and infant health for nearly four decades, the Guardian has learned.
Prams functions as a partnership between state-level health officials and a little-known but influential CDC agency called the Division of Reproductive Health, which has lost most of its staff – nearly 100 people – in the Trump administration’s purges of federal workers, according to records in a lawsuit filed by several Democratic-led states over the purges.
As a result, many of the division’s projects, including Prams, have sputtered to a halt, the lawsuit alleges.
The division will likely be unable to obtain accurate nationwide data on maternal and infant health in 2024, 2025 and 2026, an unnamed CDC staffer said in one declaration included in the lawsuit.
Researchers rely on Prams data to test out potential health interventions to improve maternal and child health, while states use it to make the case for federal funding for programs that aim to reduce infant deaths, improve care for women and help children with special needs.
The changes at the division forced Mississippi to terminate its 2024 Prams data collection and has delayed its 2025 collection, a Mississippi health department spokesperson said in an email. The spokesperson also attributed the work stoppage to “a federal directive” issued in January, but did not answer follow-up questions about the nature of that directive. In the meantime, the spokesperson said, the department is at work analyzing its existing Prams data.
Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order that would send national guard troops into Memphis, in a “replica” of the administration’s expanding military-led response to urban crime in Democratic-run cities.
The move was welcome by Tennessee’s Republican governor, Bill Lee, who stood behind Trump in the Oval Office as he signed a presidential memo establishing a Memphis Safe Task Force.
“We’re going to fix that just like we did Washington,” Trump said.
Announcing the taskforce in an Oval Office meeting, Trump said the troops would work alongside federal authorities from various agencies, including the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice); the US Marshall’s service and the Department of Justice. In his remarks on Monday, the president cited a slew of crime statistics and vowed to end the “savagery” and to “make Memphis safe again”.
Lee thanked the president for the deployment. “I’m tired of crime holding the great city of Memphis back,” the governor said.
Trump told Lee that the crime-fighting crackdown “will be your proudest moment” and predicted that crime in the city would “plummet” within weeks.
Trump was also joined at the Oval Office signing by the state’s Republican senators, Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty.
Trump deployed national guard troops to Washington last month and federalized the city’s police force to “crack down” on crime in the nation’s capitol. Violent crime was already at a 30-year low in the city.
Trump at first says he is ‘not familiar’ with Minnesota Democrat’s assassination
In response to a question about why he did not order flags lowered to half-staff to honor Melissa Hortman, the Democratic speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives who was assassinated alongside her husband this summer, Donald Trump initially said he was “not familiar” with the case.
The question came up during a briefing in the Oval Office on Monday, in light of the president’s order last week to lower flags in response to the killing of rightwing activist Charlie Kirk.
Trump was pressed on why he and Republicans continued cast blame the left for a rise in political violence when elected officials and activists from both parties have been targets.
The exchange began when the reporter asked about the tributes paid by the White House to Kirk, the founder of the conservative youth activist group Turning Point USA and a close ally of the president and his family.
“Do you think it would have been fitting to lower the flags to half-staff when Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota house speaker, was gunned down by an assassin as well?” asked Nancy Cordes, the chief White House correspondent for CBS News.
“I’m not familiar. The who?” Trump replied, leaning in across the Resolute Desk.
“The Minnesota house speaker, a Democrat, who was assassinated this summer,” she said.
“Oh,” Trump replied. “Well, if the governor had asked me to do that, I would have done that.”
JD Vance threatens crackdown on ‘far-left’ groups after Charlie Kirk shooting
JD Vance has assailed what he called the “far left” and its increased tolerance for violence while guest-hosting Charlie Kirk’s podcast on Monday, saying the administration would be working to dismantle groups who celebrate Kirk’s death and political violence against their opponents.
Vance, hosting the podcast from his office next to the White House, spoke to high-profile members of the Trump administration and some of Kirk’s long-time friends in the movement, including Tucker Carlson and Trump adviser Stephen Miller.
Vance said the administration would “work to dismantle the institutions that promote violence and terrorism in our own country”.
The administration would be working to do that in the coming months and would “explore every option to bring real unity to our country and stop those who would kill their fellow Americans because they don’t like what they say”, Vance said.
The political leanings of the shooter who killed Kirk are not yet clear. Bullet casings found with the shooter’s gun were inscribed with references to video games and online culture. Still, prominent figures on the right – before a shooter was apprehended – declared war on the left, claiming it was responsible for Kirk’s death.
There is no evidence of a network supporting the shooter, and Miller did not provide substantiation of his claims that there is a “vast domestic terror movement” at play.
Miller also detailed how the administration would use the federal government to achieve this goal.
“With God as my witness, we are going to use every resource we have at the Department of Justice, [Department of] Homeland Security and throughout this government to identify, disrupt, dismantle and destroy these networks,” Miller said, adding that they would do this “in Charlie’s name”.
Opening summary
Good morning and welcome to the US politics live blog. I’m Tom Ambrose and I will be bringing you all the latest news lines over the next few hours.
We start with news that Donald Trump has filed a $15bn defamation lawsuit against the New York Times in his latest use of legal action targeting a major media outlet.
The US president accused it of being a “mouthpiece” for the Democratic party and of “spreading false and defamatory content” about him.
It comes after the New York Times said last week that it had been threatened with legal action by the White House, following articles about a crude birthday note given to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The note bears Trump’s signature, but the president has denied being its author.
In July he launched legal action against another big US paper, the Wall Street Journal, and its proprietor Rupert Murdoch, after it first reported the existence of the note, which also featured a lewd drawing. It has since been published, but Trump continues to deny being its author.
The filing against the NYT, the latest demonstration of the president’s willingness to use legal action against the media, was made by Trump’s lawyers to a district court in Florida on Monday night.
It names several articles and one book written by two of the publication’s journalists and published in the lead-up to the 2024 election.
“The Times has betrayed the journalistic ideals of honesty, objectivity, and accuracy that it once professed,” it states, also accusing the NYT of being “a leading, and unapologetic, purveyor of falsehoods against President Trump”.
The NYT has not yet responded.
Read the full story here:
In other developments:
Donald Trump announced he will deploy the national guard to Memphis during an Oval Office ceremony attended by the Tennessee governor Bill Lee. He added that he is considering sending national guard troops to “Chicago probably next” and floated cities such as St Louis may follow.
A US appeals court ruled that Lisa Cook can remain on the Federal Reserve board, denying Trump’s attempt to remove Cook from the body ahead of a policy meeting scheduled later today. Trump will likely appeal the ruling to the supreme court. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan, has “no reason to believe” that Cook broke any tax rules involving a home she declared her primary residence.
The Senate voted to approve Stephen Miran to the Federal Reserve board in a narrow 48-47 vote largely along party lines. Miran, a Trump ally, currently serves as the White House’s chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. The vote comes just as the Fed is scheduled to gather for a two-day policy meeting where it is expected to vote on cutting interest rates.
JD Vance guest-hosted the late Charlie Kirk’s podcast yesterday live from his office in the White House complex. Vance was joined by key conservative voices, and members of the Trump administration, including Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of policy and architect of the administration’s hardline immigration policy, press secretary Karoline Leavitt, chief of staff Susie Wiles and health secretary RFK Jr.
Marco Rubio met Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem today. Rubio will travel to Qatar today.
Trump announced that the US military had conducted a strike on a second Venezuelan boat which he said was transporting narcotics. Trump said three men had been killed in the strike and that no US forces were harmed. Democratic lawmakers called for investigations into the legality of the strikes.
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